III.—­Intrigues at the Papal Court

Cardinal Salviati more than once showed himself my enemy.  He had sent from Milan, of which city he was Legate, a goldsmith named Tobbia, as a great artist, capable, so he said, of humbling the pride of his holiness’s favourite, Benvenuto.  Another of my enemies was Pompeo, a Milanese jeweller, and near relation to his holiness’s most favoured servant.  At the instigation of this Pompeo I was deprived of my place in the mint.  On another day Pompeo ran in all haste to the Pope, and said:  “Most Holy Father, Benvenuto has just murdered Tobbia; I saw it with my own eyes.”  The Pope flew into a violent passion, and ordered the governor of Rome to seize and hang me directly.

The Cardinal de Medici overheard this, and sent a Roman gentleman to tell me it was impossible to save me, and advising me to fly from Rome.  I took horse, and bent my course instantly towards Naples.  Afterwards I found that Pope Clement had sent one of the two gentlemen of his bed-chamber to inquire after Tobbia.  That gentleman, upon finding Tobbia at work, reported the real state of the case to the Pope.  His holiness thereupon turned to Pompeo and said:  “You are a most abandoned wretch, but one thing I can assure you of—­you have stirred a snake that will sting you, and that is what you well deserve.”

Arrived in Naples I was received by the viceroy, who showed me a thousand civilities, and asked me to enter his service.  However, having received a letter from the Cardinal de Medici to return to Rome without loss of time, I repaired thither on horseback.  On reaching my own house I finished a medal with the head of Pope Clement, and on the reverse a figure representing Peace, and stamped upon gold, silver, and copper.  His holiness, when presented with the medals, told me they were very fine, that he was highly pleased with them, and asked me to make another reverse representing Moses striking the rock, and the water issuing from it.  This I did.

Three days afterwards, Pope Clement died.  I put on my sword, and repaired to St. Peter’s, where I kissed the feet of the deceased pontiff, and could not refrain from tears.  On returning, near the Campo di Fiore, I met my adversary Pompeo, encircled with his bravoes.  I thereupon clapped my hand to a sharp dagger, forced my way through the file of ruffians, laid hold of Pompeo by the throat, struck him under the ear, and, upon repeating my blow, he fell down dead.  I escaped, and was protected by Cardinal Cornaro in his own palace.

A few days after, Cardinal Farnese was elected as Pope Paul III.  The new pontiff inquired after me, and declared he would employ nobody else to stamp his coins, A gentleman said that I was obliged to abscond for having killed one Pompeo in a fray, to which the Pope made answer:  “I never heard of the death of Pompeo, but I have often heard of Benvenuto’s provocation; so let a safe-conduct be instantly made